Fortunate Wager by Jan Jones Read Free Book Online

bound to go off, don’t you think? Mama won’t want you hanging around a third time when Eliza comes out.’
    Caroline was obliged to swallow her immediate response to this. Harry was the best of brothers, but there were times when he was a little more forthright than was necessary. ‘I will come back with you now at any rate. The more I am to be found at Penfold Lodge, the more everyone will expect me to be there. We shall win them over by attrition yet.’
     
    Alex strode furiously through the imposing stone gate and presently found himself viewing the remains of the once-great abbey with nothing like the reverence such an ancient place should have induced. It was beyond anything! How dare that wretched chit use him to protect her miserable brother from the consequences of his ill-considered assignations! What sort of friend encouraged a young lady in an intrigue which ran counter to her father’s wishes? Wishes that Alex had every sympathy with! Miss Taylor was a veritable beauty and livelytoo, if her animated countenance was any guide. It was a crime to waste her on a hey-go-mad puppy like Fortune when even a moderate portion should ensure her success in the marriage mart. Why had she not been presented already? Surely not simply because her father was in trade? The ton was littered with instances where money had been bartered for a title. The beau monde’s dislike of the shop could not always afford to extend itself to marriage settlements. And a goldsmith was a very superior craftsman indeed. He must ask Miss Fortune for elucidation the next time he spoke to her.
    On which thought Alex foundered. His frown returned. He wasn’t going to be speaking to Miss Caroline Fortune again. She had forfeited the right to his notice by her appalling behaviour. She was quick enough, he’d concede her that, and in any other young woman he might even admire her loyalty and spirit, but she presumed , which was a worse crime in Alex’s book even than being vulgar.
    The waiter was in the coffee room when he returned. After commenting that he had found Bury St Edmunds a very pleasant town, Alex remarked that he had met with some residents who had mentioned an assembly.
    ‘At the New Subscription Rooms, my lord? Very smart they are, by all accounts. The next ball is on Wednesday, I believe.’
     
    Harry leant against the side of the stall, watching as Caroline unhooked Solange’s tether. ‘You don’t think you are dressed too fine for this?’
    She dusted her hands on the skirts of a walking dress that owed a lot more to her mother’s love of unnecessary flounces than her own taste. ‘Oh, I do hope so. I’ve been trying to render this wretched gown unwearable for weeks.’ She took a grip on the mare’s head collar. ‘It’s a lovely afternoon, girl. Would you like a stroll around the field and a mouthful of nice fresh grass by day instead of in the dark? Show your admirers how beautiful you are?’
    Solange whickered into her hair. Flood met her eyes. ‘I’ll beright alongside you, Miss Caro. Soon as she turns restive, you take to your heels and leave her to me and Mr Harry.’
    Very slowly, and talking gently all the while, Caroline led the mare across the yard to the first paddock, which they had cleared of the other horses. It shouldn’t be any different to walking her around the field early in the morning, but there would be more to see and more movement to catch her eye and possibly make her bolt. There was certainly a moment when shouts from the street sent shivers quivering up and down her legs, but Caroline kept talking and after a minute of indecision, Solange moved forward again. As Flood shut the gate, Caroline let her go and leant on the bars, ashamed that her own legs felt so weak.
    Flood grinned. Then his face changed. ‘What’s that varmint doing here?’
    Caroline turned to see him hurtle down the path and twist his fist into the collar of an undersized man lurking in the stable archway, almost